Nicholas Cage has one of the most interesting careers in Hollywood. He starred in films from prominent directors like Francis Ford Coppola, The Coen Brothers, David Lynch, Michael Bay, and John Woo (to name a few). He quickly made BANK in his early career, leading to poor financial decisions. Cage found himself in a heaping load of absolutely awful films in the Aughts and early 10s to get his affairs in order. From odd Christian propaganda films to straight to VOD garbage to those truly awful National Treasure movies, it was clear Cage was in a bind. It wouldn’t be until the tail end of 2017 and beginning of 2018, with Mom and Dad and Mandy, respectively, that the world would be thrust into the much-needed Cage-issance.
Mandy follows Red Miller (Nicholas Cage) and his girlfriend Mandy Bloom (Andrea Riseborough). They live in a gorgeous isolated mountain house where veteran Red finds himself as a lumberjack while Mandy works at a gas station (and is an artist). Children of the New Dawn leader Jerimiah Sands (Linus Roache) notices Mandy walking one day and decides he must have her. Sands kidnaps Mandy and eventually kills her in front of Red—big mistake. Red goes on a rampage of revenge and leaves no witnesses (well, he does leave one).
Writer/director (and talented nepo baby) Panos Cosmatos is one of the most visually stunning genre filmmakers of the 21st century. Beyond the Black Rainbow was a confusing yet stunningly brilliant debut feature film. Even if it was difficult for most audiences to understand, it was clear he had a specific vision and style. Almost a decade after Rainbow, Cosmatos would come out with his most accessible film to date. Mandy was a more down-to-earth look into the mind of Cosmatos and connected with the horror audience in a way Rainbow failed to. This trippy, metal, operatic masterpiece took the genre by storm.
Mom and Dad was having its wide-release post-festival run the day Mandy premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Both films bolstered the return of Cage being a brilliant actor. Mandy was toted as a badass return to form for an unhinged Nicholas Cage at the hands of a director who knew how to handle it. One of the funniest bits from Community is when Abed (Danny Pudi) takes the Nicholas Cage Good Or Bad? class. Abed asks whether Nicholas Cage is just good in bad movies and bad in good movies. While that’s a fair question, I think it’s deeper than that. Cage is best when a competent director knows how to handle Cage. And Cosmatos knows how to handle his Cage.
Beyond the brilliant performances, Cosmatos expertly mixes practical and digital effects seamlessly (and even some matte paintings, I believe). One of Mandy’s most visually appealing aspects is the Hellraiser-like creatures that are spawned when the cult members use the Horn of Abraxis. This horn summons a group of BDSM off-roaders who use enough acid to kill a major metropolitan area. Their creature design is absolutely stunning, and each one has their own personality, which is shown through their individual creature design.
Once the rampaging starts, it doesn’t stop. Red takes out each villain in fun and brutal ways; he accepts no substitutes. The most fun fight scene is when Red and one of the Hellraisers have a chainsaw swordfight. It’s an absolute thrill to watch. But who could forget Richard Brake? Destined to be a hellbilly from birth, Brake is the one who creates the acid for the cult and *checks notes* has a tiger? Okay, go off king. Nothing about this film should work, but it does. From Riseborough’s restrained performance to Roache’s over-the-top, megalomaniac performance, there isn’t a single bad actor among the bunch.
If you somehow HAVEN’T seen Mandy, you need to fix that immediately. It’s a truly unique film that works just as well today as it did in 2018. It’s a shame it takes Cosmatos so long to come out with films because I eat up everything he makes. Sure, Beyond the Black Rainbow is a difficult film to watch, but it’s gorgeous and a hell of a trip. And his segment in Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is my favorite among the bunch. If Wikipedia is to be believed, Cosmatos has a film coming out in 2025…let’s hope that’s accurate.
